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Josh Hanson murder

On the Friday night before, he had spent the evening at his home in Kingsbury, where he and his mother had tucked into a large chocolate desert.

Josh Hanson was killed in a 'brutal' and 'unprovoked' attack in October 2015 (Image: Met Police)

The dessert still lives in Ms Hanson’s fridge, with spoon marks still visible, as a reminder of her son.

Since the tragedy, the mum has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and panic disorder and has been unable to continue running her business as a beauty therapist.

The latest image of Shane O’Brien was taken by police in Prague in February, and shows the 29-year-old has grown his hair and has a full beard (Image: Met Police)

So she has turned her fight for justice into a near full-time job, creating an office where she runs the campaign from, setting up the The Josh Hanson Charitable Trust and lobbying politicians.

She said: “I know everything I do is a distraction for the inevitable.

“One day the full on grieving process will start. Until we’ve had our day in court, this man is taken off of the streets and can harm no-one else, I’m not ready to grieve yet. I need to save my energy.

Josh and Tracey Hanson (Image: Met Police)

“I can’t bear the thought of this happening to someone else.”

She described her son as “kind and loving” - he had plans to go backpacking in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The charity set up in Josh’s name helps divert young people away from crime and has raised nearly £40,000 towards opening a community coffee shop.

Ms Hanson said parents had a duty to find out what their children were up to and urged mums and dads to hug their kids , send them messages and “spend as much time with them as you can, even if they don’t want you to. Because some people can’t do that”.

She called for safe schools and says working with communities is key, saying “society is disconnected”.

Ms Hanson called on local and central government to increase funding and facilities for young people, tougher prison sentences and support for victims and their families.

Tracey Hanson with Josh and Brooke as children

Along the way she’s held discussions with the Mayor of London, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Victim Commissioner and her MP.

Battling her emotions, she said: “Through me, I’m giving him [Josh] a voice and highlighting his legacy.

“He should be here. Getting a conviction is the very least he deserves.

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“I’ve always fought for my kids and championed their corners and I’m not going to fail Josh now.”

Asked what Josh would say if he could see his mother now, she says: “I think he’d say keep doing what you’re doing and try and help as many people as you can. He’d probably say ‘thanks for keeping me out there and thanks for letting everyone still see me’.

The RE Bar on October 11 2015, after Josh Hanson, inset, was stabbed to death

“I don’t know how I’m still standing but I want to help others.

“If someone were to turn around and say, ‘I was going to carry a knife but the Josh Hanson Charitable Trust helped me’, then I want to help them.

“By me showing them the right way, they might in turn help someone else.

“If we all work together we can make a change.”

Police said today that O'Brien, from Ladbroke Grove, had been arrested in Prague earlier this year but released on bail after providing police with false documents.

On October 28 2015 investigating officers arrested two men on an inbound flight on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender.

They were bailed to return on a date in October pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information about O’Brien or his whereabouts can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org or the police incident room on 020 8785 8099.

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